If you’re excited about helping animals and spreading the vegan message with the resources you possess, we believe this article is for you!

You may wonder, out of many charities/nonprofit organizations out there, what are some of the best vegan animal charities you can help. 

It goes without saying, that any charity can be noble when done for the right reasons, carried out effectively & transparently to achieve the purpose. Thus, before supporting a charity you may have some questions about it. 

Questions such as what the charity has done so far, are they using their finances responsibly, and has their work been effective.

That’s exactly why I spent hours researching the best available information to find some of the top vegan animal charities/not-for-profit organizations. You can see the official status of each charity and their Charity Navigator rating, plus I included few of the campaigns each charity has done. 

I have also shown many options to support these charities where possible. So even if you’re unable to make a monetary or any other material donation, there may still be more options for you to contribute towards saving animals and spreading the message.

Further, I made sure to include charities with an element of variety (nature of activities being different) to make this list rather interesting giving you more choice! Because we believe in and champion the wide-ranging work carried out by all of these charities with a common purpose.  

First up, we have a charity that has some impressive outreach figures…

1. Vegan Outreach 

via GIPHY

Vegan Outreach was formed in 1993 to end violence toward animals. Since then, the charity has handed out over 20 million vegan booklets to stand out as a vegan charity! 

As their name suggests, outreach is their main means of operation. This involves empowering vegans to speak up & spread the message within their communities to help others go vegan. 

Honestly, we (Vegan Universal) believe that this is one of the most effective & impactful ways to save animals. Create awareness and help change the mindset of one person and you save many animals as a result. It’s all about reducing consumption & demand, isn’t it. 

If you’re contemplating how to support or be part of vegan activism effectively, this is a community you can join.     

Charity Status & Web Link

• 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
• IRS ruling year: 2007
• Donations are tax-deductible
• Charity Navigator has given Vegan Outreach a rating of 85.99/100 with a recommendation “Give with Confidence”, see more details here.
• Web: https://veganoutreach.org/

Campaigns  

At its peak, Vegan Outreach handed out booklets to over 1 million students at 1,000 schools per semester. 

After researching the effectiveness of vegan challenges, the charity refocused their college outreach to signing people up for their ‘10 Weeks to Vegan’ guided challenge. In 2019, 150,000 people signed up. 

Once the pandemic hit (2019-2021), Vegan Outreach moved its efforts online and started giving webinar presentations to college classes. This resulted in over 250,000 signing up for ‘10 Weeks to Vegan’ in 2020, and over 460,000 people in 2021! As of early April 2022, over 100,000 have signed up despite being just 4 months in. Powerful! 

The move to online outreach allowed the charity to easily expand into new countries, and their program is now running in countries all over the world. 

As well as VO’s ‘10 Weeks to Vegan’ program, they run a 30-day plant-based ‘Get Healthy’ challenge. 

How You Can Help 

If you’d like to support Vegan Outreach, you can donate here. 

Other ways to help: 

• Volunteer to spread veganism
• Be a mentor
• Order outreach booklets and merchandise
• Other options

2. Viva!

Perhaps one of the most effective UK charities at getting good information out there! Founded in 1994, and being active for over 25 years to create a kinder world for humans and animals alike. The charity handles some of the UK’s largest undercover investigations and animal rights campaigns. 

Charity Status & Web Link 

• Registered charity number: 1037486
• You can check their official income and expenditure on the UK gov site
• Web: https://viva.org.uk/

Campaigns  

Viva! was able to launch their “Takeaway the Meat” TV advert on a major UK TV network on Valentine’s Day after hitting their crowdfunding target of £40,000. 

The charity also investigated Hogwood pig farm 4 times from 2017-to 2019, recording a catalog of extremely cruel conditions. Overcrowding, routine mutilation, sick and dying pigs abandoned in gangways, and live cannibalism were some of the footage captured at the farm. 

Because of this investigation, over 70,000 people signed a petition urging a major UK supermarket Tesco to drop Hogwood. The petition was a success, and food standards company Red Tractor also dropped Hogwood. 

The footage was used to create the chilling documentary “HOGWOOD” narrated by ‘Game of Thrones’ star Jerome Flynn, after Viva! successfully crowdfunded the costs to produce the documentary. 

Viva! also investigated a Morrisons pig farm, ‘Calvesly Farm’, which got closed down as a direct result of their work. 

One of their most powerful & far-reaching campaign styles is using eye-catching billboards (love it!).

Other campaigns Viva! has worked on include ‘End Factory Farming’, ‘Foie-Gras free Britain’, ‘Exotic Meat’, ‘Eat Green’, ‘Ban the Farrowing Crate’, ‘Dark Side of Dairy’, and ‘The Big Coverup’. 

How You Can Help 

If you’d like to support Viva! on its journey to create a better world, you can donate here.

Other ways to help:

• Join street action events
• Join university outreach
• Become a door dropper
• Be a stall volunteer at amazing vegan events
• Other options

3. Mercy For Animals

Founded in 1999, Mercy For Animals’ mission is to prevent cruelty to farmed animals and promote compassionate food choices and policies. The charity achieves this through educating consumers, undercover exposure, corporate outreach, and legal advocacy. 

This is an organization you can support or join, if you’re thinking about animal rights activism!

Charity Status & Web Link 

• 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
• IRS ruling year: 2004
• Donations are tax-deductible
• Charity Navigator has given Mercy For Animals a rating of 87.55/100 with a recommendation “Give with Confidence”, see more details here
• Animal Charity Evaluators rank Mercy For Animals as a Standout Charity
• Web: https://mercyforanimals.org/

Campaigns  

Mercy For Animals (MFA) has run over 65 investigations of factory farms and slaughterhouses, many of which have resulted in animal cruelty convictions, changes in corporate welfare policies, and primetime news coverage. 

One of these investigations included exposing a pig slaughterhouse in Brazil run by the world’s largest meat company, JBS. 

Another uncovered immense suffering on a farm that raises chicken for an ALDI supplier in the US. 

The charity also drove the success of a Michigan law that will reduce suffering for at least 10 million egg-laying hens each year by December 31, 2024, as well as preserve protection for pigs and calves. 

What’s more, MFA works with celebrities and online influencers who use their large platforms to advocate for animals.

How You Can Help 

If you’d like to help Mercy For Animals end factory farming, there are tons of ways to do so! You can donate here.

Other ways to help: 

• Volunteer opportunities
• Work for Mercy For Animals

4. Humane Society International

Founded in 1991, Humane Society International works around the world to protect all animals. Their work includes promoting the human-animal bond, protecting wildlife, rescuing and protecting dogs & cats, responding to natural disasters and other emergencies to save the animals in need (e.g. helping animal victims during the 2022 Ukraine war), confronting cruelty to animals of all forms and importantly promote cruelty-free testing and research. 

Charity Status & Web Link

• 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
• IRS ruling year: 1993
• Donations are tax-deductible
• Charity Navigator has given Humane Society International a rating of 83.79/100 with a recommendation “Give with Confidence”, see more details here.
• Web: https://www.hsi.org/  

Campaigns

In 2021, Humane Society International did an undercover investigation of an NYC pet store that sourced its dogs from puppy mills and failed to give sick puppies medical care. The investigation led to the 70-year-old shop closing permanently 2 months later. This in turn generated momentum for a statewide ban on retail puppy sales. 

In 2012, HSI launched its #BeCrueltyFree campaign. Since then, many countries have introduced or re-introduced legislation on animal testing. 

In 2013, Norway banned cosmetic animal testing and the sale of newly animal-tested cosmetics. 

In 2015, Canada reintroduced legislation to ban cosmetic animal testing, sales, and data use. 

In 2018, California enacted a ban on the sale of newly animal-tested cosmetics. 

Additionally, HSI ran a campaign to draw attention to the suffering of hens used in egg production. This campaign helped lead Nevada and Utah to become the 8th and 9th states to ban cage confinement. 

How You Can Help

To support Humane Society International in creating a better life for all, you can donate here. 

Other ways to help:

• Pledge your support for petitions or send a message to influence change
• Work for Humane Society International
• Other options 

5. Animal Outlook

Formerly known as ‘Compassion Over Killing’, Animal Outlook was formed in 1995 with a mission to build a better tomorrow for all animals. They achieve this through undercover investigations, legal advocacy, corporate and food system reform, and empowering everyone to choose veganism.

Charity Status & Web Link

• 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
• IRS ruling year: 1998
• Donations are tax-deductible
• Charity Navigator has given Animal Outlook a rating of 82.22/100 with a recommendation “Give with Confidence”, see more details here.
• Web: https://animaloutlook.org/

Campaigns

In 2021, Animal Outlook exposed one of the top 15 chicken producers in the US. The investigation revealed the torment that more than 200,000 chicks go through daily at the hatchery owned by Case Farms. 

The campaign uncovered chicks being roughly handled, thrown, having plastic trays dragged across them and crushing their throats, and driven over with machinery, as well as a whole host of other cruel conditions. 

The charity has launched successful campaigns which urged major brands Morningstar Farms, Boca, and LightLife to cut down on their egg use in their products. 

In 2017, Animal Outlook began developing a program with all the necessary components to remove exit and entry barriers for animal farmers looking to transition to plant-growing facilities. This will ultimately be impactful for both farmers and animals. 

How You Can Help

If you’d like to support Animal Outlook in advocating against factory farming and promoting vegan eating, donate here. 

Other ways to help:

• Join the alliance
• Work for Animal Outlook
• Other options

6. Chilis on Wheels

Founded in 2014, Chilis on Wheels mission is to make veganism more accessible in low-income communities across the US. The charity was born after founder Michelle Carrera couldn’t find a soup kitchen that served a vegan Thanksgiving meal. So she made her own chili and took it straight to the community, and saw the need for such a service to exist.             

Charity Status & Web Link

• 501(c)(3) registered public charity
• Donations are tax-exempt
• Web: https://www.chilisonwheels.org/

Campaigns

On Thanksgiving Day, Chilis on Wheels serves over 1000 meals to New Yorkers. 

The organization offers free vegan food to those in need of a warm meal, weather-appropriate clothing, cruelty-free toiletries, sleeping bags, and a variety of other items.

Upon request, the organization also runs vegan workshops for members of the communities. These include food demos and educational talks on veganism with local churches, community centers, or schools. 

The charity extends its services to those in need abroad, having helped communities in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. 

How You Can Help

If you’d like to support Chilis on Wheels in making veganism accessible for low-income communities, you can donate here.

Other ways to help:

• Volunteer
• Be a mentor

Summary

While living a vegan lifestyle is great, it may not be just enough to simply be vegan. There are still millions of animals experiencing extreme torment right now. So it’s essential that we do our best to take some form of action beyond simply being vegan.

Even if you can’t afford to donate money, you can consider helping by volunteering your time! 

I’ll leave you with a powerful quote from Jon Camp of Vegan Outreach: 

“While our decision to go vegan impacts hundreds of animals,  we can exponentially increase the good we do for animals by getting involved in advocacy. So I’d recommend finding a style of advocacy that is effective, easy to do, and to then do it regularly at a sustainable pace.” 

Let’s make a difference and do our best to support these charities!

Other Significant & Notable Charities/Nonprofit Organizations:

1. The Vegan Society (the oldest vegan organization and pioneers of veganism!)
2. American Vegan Society
3. Veganuary (inspire people to try vegan January and beyond)
4. Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (focus: promote non-animal methods in research and education (opposition to animal testing) and advocate a plant-based diet for disease prevention)
5. Animal Aid 

Did we miss any charity/nonprofit organization you would like to see here? Let us know in the comments.

Few things we hope you can do:

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Author: Oliver James of https://veganfocused.com

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Image credits: Vegan Outreach / Viva! / Mercy For Animals / Humane Society International / Animal Outlook / Chilis on Wheels

GIF source credit: Vegan Outreach / Giphy